Sports

Swinging for the fences

Twana Horamani swings at a pitch from London Majors shortstop Keith Kandel during a Rookie League Baseball game at Labatt Park. Organized by the London Police Service, the annual summer series provides London kids from London Middlesex Housing Corporation properties a chance to play baseball together. (CHRIS MONTANINI, Londoner)

Less than 24 hours after the London Majors’ series-clinching win over the Burlington Herd Aug. 8, Labatt Park hosted another exciting baseball matchup last week: Limberwin versus Alien Macaroni.

The two squads of local kids aged nine to 11 faced each other in the Rookie League Baseball finals, wrapping up this year’s edition of a long-standing community development project organized by the London Police Service and London Middlesex Housing Corporation (LMHC).

“The kids really enjoy themselves,” said Linda Forget, a tenant support services manager with LMHC. “They look forward to it every year (and) when we go to sign them up, they’re ready and excited to play.”

About 60 players on four teams representing LMHC properties across London took part this year, Rookie League Baseball’s 24th season.

London Police Const. Tanya Leclerc said the annual summer series provides local kids with a free opportunity to play an organized sport, something that might not otherwise be available to them.

“Playing sports is very expensive,” she said. “Having those volunteer coaches and mentors in their life goes a long way.”

Rookie League Baseball has also become popular with volunteers from London Police. Around 30 members offered to coach this season.

“It’s the largest amount of coaches we’ve had thus far,” Leclerc said. “Being able to build those relationships is what the coaches get out of it, as well as seeing the kids’ athletic abilities come to the forefront and see them get active and involved in the community.”

Forget highlighted the importance of community service, too.

Besides building a positive relationship with law enforcement, she said Rookie League Baseball players are also encouraged to volunteer in their communities.

“We want to teach them — because the police are volunteering their time to run this program — that they have to volunteer their time back,” she said.